The district health authorities have issued an advisory requesting public not to venture out between 12 noon and 4 p.m., to avoid getting exposed to sun. With mercury rising steadily in Hyderabad, in addition to heat strokes, other summer-related ailments, including food poisoning and gastroenteritis, are on the rise.
On an average, the outpatient wings of Nallakunta Fever Hospital, Gandhi Hospital and Osmania General Hospital (OGH) are receiving anywhere between 1,000 to 1,200 patients with symptoms of gastroenteritis, food poisoning and heat strokes. According to doctors, the main reason for ADDs is consumption of contaminated water.
“In summer, due to excessive heat, public tend to consume a lot of juice and other liquid-based drinks from outside. There is no guarantee on the quality of water, which is being used to prepare such drinks. Public should avoid consuming from roadside joints or at least should watch out for what they eat,” says Dr. B. Balraju, former superintendent, Gandhi Hospital.
Health officials have said that the main reason for heat strokes is the abnormal rise in body temperatures during hot weather conditions. The high-risk groups include children, elderly people, daily labourers and pregnant women.
The most common symptoms of sun stroke include breathlessness, vomiting, fatigue, headache, muscle cramps and aches, high body temperature and dizziness.
“In extreme hot conditions, the body loses its ability to dissipate the heat, and this leads to rise in body temperature.
Heat strokes are also caused due to dehydration when the body does not sweat quickly and dissipate heat, leading to rise in body temperatures and heat stroke,” Dr. B. Balraju.
